SG - The Future of River Resilience

About The Future of River Resilience

Tonight, we float into deeply personal approaches to the future of river resilience. We hear about how fluid relationships can be between advocacy, activism, and empirical research in two intimate reflections by expert frontline interventionists. Our guests will share how they relate to rivers and what ‘knowing’ can do to one’s sense of responsibility. Join Delft graduate hydraulic engineer – turned paddling protector – Vera Knook, and renown river advocate Li An Phoa in an intimate recollection of their own intrinsic motivations at a time when threats to rivers are evolving. They will share their own compasses and discuss transdisciplinary opportunities along the frothing shoreline between science and activism. Hear first-hand how this raises many questions about impact and the role of science and scientists in the mix of activism, advocacy, and other grass roots initiatives. Vera and Li An will talk about alliances and cooperation between science and advocacy/activism at a time when governments’ legitimacy to protect rivers for future generations is under pressure. Engage with these frontline practitioners on important questions about citizen science, and when it becomes political, - or not. What questions are we confronted with as individuals in the scientific community? Hear their perspectives on (scientific) river expertise and impact, and how they are rhyming passion and knowledge.

About Vera Knook

Vera Knook is a Dutch hydraulic engineer turned river conservationist. In 2020, she founded a non-profit organisation, The River Collective, and in 2021 received a grant from National Geographic Society to lead a transdisciplinary river conservation camp on the Valbona River in Albania. She further evolved this concept, and last year mentored a team of students that organised a Students for Rivers Camp in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Vera organised the first Neretva Science Week for the Save the Blue Heart Campaign in 2022. Vera is one of the initiators of the Home River Bioblitz, a global citizen science project that creates a snapshot of river biodiversity, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2024. As a whitewater kayaker, Vera has experienced free-flowing rivers and their threats in Nepal, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, and across Europe. She lived in Peru for the last 5 years, where she contributes to the protection of the Marañón River and is planning an educational program to engage a cohort of Peruvian and international students from various disciplines.

About Li An Phoa

Li An Phoa is the founder of Drinkable Rivers. She studied business administration, philosophy, and systems ecology. Her passions have led her to walk the talk. Li An’s 1,000-kilometre walk along the river Meuse was the subject of the documentary 'Long Walk for Drinkable Rivers'.

She has co-written the book ‘Drinkable Rivers: How the River Became My Teacher’ (2023) and is protagonist in the documentary film, 'Our Blue World'. The hands on (feet on) approach to knowing rivers by tracing their paths, has led Li An to remarkable places to bring concern for rivers to the attention of all. Her latest river walk had her tracing the banks of the river Scheldt from the source in France to the North Sea.